Synopses & Reviews

Synopsis

The research project done in the Media Group is summarized in ten essays, complemented with the editors' overview of the regions' media policy trends in the early 21st century. This volume is a collection of comparative and country case studies describing aspects of media reform in a few transition societies. The reform of media systems was a key task during the post-communist democratic consolidation. Communist state monopoly broadcasting gave way to commercial and public service media. A pluralist, mostly private, newspaper market replaced the party and state press. However, these endeavours have encountered various challenges. These included many forms of authoritarian control and nationalist use of media, the shortcomings of press and media markets, and a low level of journalistic skills and professional ethics.

Focuses on the shortcomings of reforms and includes proposals for the current media scene in East-Central Europe and the Balkans.